Slideshow

Appliqué class – Quetzal, bird of liberty

Saturday, July 28, 2018 @ 9:30 am - 3:00 pm

Guatemalan legend has it that, during a battle near Lake Atitlan, a Quetzal (the bird of liberty and Guatemala’s national bird) fell over the inert body of a brave Indian warrior whose tribe then won the fight. This event is still celebrated in the embroidery of local women who decorate their clothes with brightly coloured birds.

This class offers a ‘taste’ of some of the common forms of hand appliqué used today. The repeated bird motif allows students to practise the skills taught. The motif used is very forgiving for those who have not hand appliquéd before – and you will end up with a useable product, a pillow cover. Parts of the motif are decorated with surface embroidery. Students will also discover the tools that are available and ways to organise a large piece of work such as a quilt.

Techniques include: needle turn, use of templates to prepare pieces, blanket stitch edges using Visofix to position the pieces, use of bias strips for stems etc., and use of freezer paper templates.